Saturday Seminole Summary: FSU Picked Third in Atlantic; Seven Noles Named to Preseason Watch Lists

Just more than a month separates us from the start of football season and ACC prognosticators are expecting a better year for Florida State.

This past week, ACC writers picked the Seminoles to finish third in the Atlantic division behind reigning national champion Clemson and Syracuse. FSU went just 5-7 last season and 3-5 in conference.

Behind FSU in the division was NC State, Boston College, Wake Forest and Louisville in order. Clemson earned 171 of 173 first-place votes while Syracuse got the other two.

Virginia was projected to win the Coastal division, just in front of Miami. 170 of the 173 voters picked the Tigers to win the ACC.

FSU wide receiver Tamorrion Terry and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson were each named preseason All-ACC. Florida State Cam Akers did receive one ACC Player of the Year vote. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was named preseason ACC Player of the Year.

Marvin Wilson and Dontavious Jackson were among FSU players to make preseason watch lists. (Phil Kelly/FSU athletics)

Over the last two weeks, seven different Florida State football players were named to National College Football Awards Association preseason watch lists. Making the most for FSU was defensive tackle Marvin Wilson.

Wilson, a junior from Houston, was named to the Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists. Wilson is FSU’s leading returning sack man with 3.5 last season to go with 42 total tackles and 4.5 for loss.

Running back Cam Akers was named to the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award watch lists. Akers has led the Seminoles in yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons. After breaking Dalvin Cook’s school record for rushing yards by a freshman in 2017, Akers ran for 706 yards and scored seven total touchdowns last season.

Wide receiver Tamorrion Terry was named to the Biletnikoff watch list and tight end Tre’ McKitty was named to the Mackey Award watch list. Terry, a redshirt sophomore, finished with a team-high 744 yards receiving last season and eight touchdowns on a stellar 21.3 yards per catch. The junior McKitty caught 26 passes for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Linebackers Dontavious Jackson and DeCalon Brooks each made preseason watch lists. Jackson, a senior who recorded 75 tackles, seven for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble, was named to the Butkus Award watch list, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. Brooks was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which recognizes achievement on and off the field. Brooks, a redshirt sophomore, tallied 46 tackles, three for loss, one sack and one forced fumble last season.

Punter Logan Tyler was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list. The senior averaged a career-high 43.2 yards per punt last season with 23 of his 82 punts last season traveling at least 50 yards.

Football

Record: 0-0
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: vs. Boise State (Aug. 31, in Jacksonville)
Recognitions: Tamorrion Terry, WR (Preseason All-ACC) Marvin Wilson, DT (Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, Outland Trophy watch list, Preseason All-ACC); Dontavious Jackson, LB (Butkus Award watch list); Logan Tyler, P (Ray Guy Award watch list); DeCalon Brooks, LB (Wuerffel Trophy watch list)
Weekly Commitments: Lloyd Willis, T (Unranked)*
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 13 nationally, third in ACC (17 total commitments)*
Big Picture: After a dismal 2018 campaign, Florida State opens fall camp on Aug. 2. Second-year head coach Willie Taggart desperately needs to have a solid season.

Men’s Basketball

Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 25 nationally, sixth in ACC (1 total commitment)*

Other News

FSU beach volleyball team earned the AVCA Team Academic Award.

Five FSU softball players — Kathryn Sandercock, Cassidy Davis, Carsyn Gordon, Dani Morgan and Anna Shelnutt — were all named to the All-ACC Academic team.

FSU women’s golf unveiled its 2020 schedule, which begins on Sept. 8 with the Cougar Classic in South Carolina.

FSU center Dominik Olejniczak will play for the Polish national team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball.

FSU assistant hoops coach Dennis Gates will leave to become head coach at Cleveland State.

FSU football hosted more than 60 prospects for “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday.

*247Sports Composite rankings

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.